‘7th Suicide Command’ Seen As Cover for Terrorist Groups

August 10, 1973

JERUSALEM (Aug. 9)

Political observers here believe that the “Seventh Suicide Com- mand,” reportedly claiming responsibility for the Athens Airport attack last Sunday, is a fictitious cover for the regular Arab terrorist organizations. The observers noted that the official Arab organizations claimed they were not involved in the last three major incidents involving Arab terrorism–the murder of Yosef Alon in Washington, the Japan Air Line hijack and the attack in Athens.

The observers interpreted this new information as a clear indication that after the experience of the Israeli April 10 raid on Beirut, the terrorists are more careful about claiming any involvement with incidents of international terrorism. The terrorists are also aware of the decline in sympathy toward the Palestinian cause with any such incident. Israeli observers insisted that the regular terrorist organizations, or groups inside those organizations, are responsible for the last three terrorist incidents.

The observers, said the organizations came up with the recent “Seventh Suicide Command” announcement, published in the Beirut paper Al Nahar, saying the Athens attack was purposely directed toward the American people, as a clear attempt to frighten the Greek government out of plans to try the terrorists captured after the airport incident. However, the observers said, the Greek government made it clear that they intended to try the terrorists.

Israel has received no word that the Greek government had any second thoughts about completing legal procedures against the terrorists for fear of another terror blackmail attack. Greek officials denied to the Israeli Charge d’Affaires in Athens reports that a Fatah representative came to Greece to negotiate the freeing of the terrorists who last Sunday killed three persons and wounded 55. Israeli observers believe the Greeks now realize the importance of bringing the terrorists to trial.

The Israeli interpretation of the attack contradicts a statement made yesterday by the Fatah organization that it had nothing to do with the “Seventh Command,” and attacking it for saying it carried out the massacre in revenge for the killing of terrorist leader Yussuf Alnajar in the April Beirut raid.